As "America’s Ship for Ocean Exploration," the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer’s sole assignment is to systematically explore Earth’s largely unknown ocean. A major task for this mission is to reach out to teachers, students, and the general public so that they may become engaged with expeditions dedicated to purposes of discovery and the advancement of knowledge. Okeanos Explorer Expedition Education Modules (EEM) are designed to help accomplish this task. The Gulf of Mexico 2012 Expedition offers a unique opportunity for explorers of all ages to investigate the unknown and poorly-known deep-sea ecosystems of the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Why Are Scientists Exploring the Diversity and Distribution of Deep-Sea Habitats in the Northern Gulf of Mexico?
Learn more
Classroom lessons and learning tools relevant to the expedition are listed below by grade level. Although some of these resources may have been developed for past expeditions conducted in other regions of the world ocean, the Focus Questions and Student Learning Objectives are applicable to the current expedition.
Includes 16 lesson plans about deep-sea organisms and ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. Lessons include selections from education materials developed for eleven expeditions sponsored by NOAA’s Office of Exploration and Research, as well as new lessons and additional background information about the Deepwater Horizon blowout event.
A collection of lesson plans and other resources of the voyages and discoveries of the Okeanos Explorer.
Interactive multimedia presentations and Learning Activities on Deep-Sea Corals, Chemosynthesis and Hydrothermal Vent Life, Deep-Sea Benthos, and Food, Water, and Medicine from the Sea.
Ocean Careers to Inspire Another Generation of Explorers, or OceanAGE Careers, invites students to learn about the talented people who explore our ocean planet.
